Taoyuan's Guanyin District Farmers' Association Appoints Plant Doctor to Diagnose Crops

(CNA Reporter Wu Jui-chi, Taoyuan, 18th) With the "Plant Doctor National Exam" launched last year, the Guanyin District Farmers' Association in Taoyuan City announced today that it has introduced a plant diagnosis service, becoming the only farmers' association among the 13 districts in Taoyuan to be equipped with a "Plant Doctor," so that when crops get sick, there is a doctor to see them. Chiang Hsieh-yu, the general manager of the Guanyin District Farmers' Association, stated that in the past, when farmers encountered crop pest and disease problems, they mostly relied on experience for judgment, which could easily lead to repeated medication or misdiagnosis. The Legislative Yuan's Economics Committee reviewed and passed the "Plant Doctor Act" draft in July 2024. Pan Hsien-jou, a graduate of the Department of Plant Pathology at National Chung Hsing University, took office as a plant doctor in training in November of the same year and passed the national exam last August, providing professional technical support. Chiang Hsieh-yu pointed out that 26-year-old Pan Hsien-jou is a qualified professional from the first "Plant Doctor National Exam" and is full of passion for agriculture. She usually identifies pathogens and pests from diseased plants brought in by farmers. When she encounters a case that is difficult to diagnose, she immediately puts on her hat and boots and heads straight to the fields. She also conducts regular field inspections every week to track crop growth and disease development, adjusting prevention and medication recommendations at any time. In just one year of service, she has become a reliable "plant doctor" in the eyes of the farmers. Plant Doctor Pan Hsien-jou said that plant diagnosis is not just about book knowledge; more importantly, it's about practical field experience and feedback from farmers. During busy times, she can receive over a hundred consultation cases a month, from diagnosing diseased plants and conducting field inspections to providing prevention recommendations. She is grateful that farmers are willing to share their planting experience selflessly, allowing her to accumulate cases, organize data, and then share it with other farmers to promote correct medication and prevention concepts. Helping farmers solve problems and seeing crops recover brings her a great sense of achievement. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150518